Combination guitar case and stand



Aug. 5,1930. R. c. EZZELLE COMBINATION GUITAR CASE AND STAND Filed Oct. 21. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 5, 1930. R. c. EZZELLE 1,772,303

I COMBINATION GUITAR CASE AND STAND Filed Oct. 21, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorney Aug. 5, 1930. R. c. EZZELLE COMBINATION'GUI'IAR CASE AND STAND Filed Oct. 21, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gig Inventor 1 By A tiomey Patented Aug. 5, 1930 1,772,308

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT CUL'LEN EZZELLE, WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA COMBINATION GUITAR CASE AND STAND Application filed October 21, 1929. Serial No. 401,198.

This invention relates to the broad class view of a section taken approximately on the of stringed musical instruments of the speplane of the line a e of Figure 3. cies generally referred to in the art as Ha Figure is a corner fragmentary section of waiian steel guitars, and it has more specific the cover buttoning or fastening means.

5 reference to a novel assembly of parts so FigureGisafragmeiitary longitudinal secconstructed and associated as to provide a tioiial view showing a portion of the guide combination carrying case and supporting track and slidably mounted leg stay. stand for the instrument. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the front As a general rule, a Hawaiian steel guitar supporting le l 1 is placed upon the lap of the performer in Figure 8 is a sect on taken approximately a somewhat horizontal position and the steel on the plane oi: the line 8 of Figure (3. is slid longitudinally alongthe strings to the Figure 9 is 718W. similar to Figure 8 different positions while the portions of the showin a retaining clip associated with the strings overlying the instrument body are track structure 1 15 strummed. As seen in Figure 1, the reference numeral I have observed that it is diffi lt for 10 designates generally a conventional steel women and children to properly support the g i ar- In accordance with the present inguitar on the lap because of the awkward vention, this is placed in the especially deposition the legs are called upon to assume. signed case constituting the novelty 0ith 20 Therefore, in order to avoid unreliable and 0 he Case may be or any approinconvenient handling, I have evolved and Em li gn- AS amatter 0t tact, it is deproduced a simple and, economical structure l C at t e expression case" be interpreted which functions primarily as a supporting to comprehend a structure suclr as may be stand, enabling the instrument to be placed dtQ 311 a table, since in its broad 25 t th proper l ti above th l d aspect, th s invention relates to a supporting 7 to be supported directly from the floor, thus table having support ng constituting a insuring that the instrument will be held i supporting stand ior holding the guitar in a a ti l l i iti fii i t playing position, wherein the stand has the formance. incidental function of a carrying case.

As before intimated, novelty is predicated T116 C5156 8 Seen n Figure comprises a upon the employment of a case in which the u s n ially ectangular b0Xlike body porinstrument is placed and carried from place tloll 1 0f apprqpriate depth and mater al. to place, said casing being provided with fold- A the front one is a trough-like exten o bl Supporting legs h b t id a 12 which tunctioiis as a receptacle for the 35 b d case d supporting t d t neck of the instrument. It is to be noted tum however, from Figure Q that the lett hand end The mechanical details and their specific of thls s extetlslgn notched as association and arrangement will become cated at 10 and toe hey equipped head of the instrument extends beyond this notched end l i irent trom the fOllOWlll de- 0 t 113 D to render the keys accessible for tuning purseription and drawings.

poses. the d1 f mgs I 1 The corners of the box 11 are suitably rein- Flgure 1 13 a top Plan new 71th the Covel forced by cornice pieces 14 and on the side remO walls are headed studs 15 forming elements 5 Figure 2 is a longitudinal Sectional View of separable fasteners to be hereinafter furtaken approximately upon the plane of the ther d ib d Th t on one id i a line 2-2 of Figure 1- liaiidgrip 16 as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the cover For a cover I have found it expedient to in place. employ a leather sleeve or the like 17 which 50 Figure 4 is a transverse or cross sectional slips over the neck portion of the case and instrument as seen in Figure 3, the same being detachably fastened in place by suitable means as indicated at 18. Zhen too, there is a separate cover sheetlor the open top oi' the box portion of the case. lhls is indicated by the numeral 19 in Fig. 5 and is of an area to permit the edge portions thereof to be directed downwardly as indicated at 20. 'lhese portions 20 have buttons or snap lasteners 2i which engage with the complemental studs 15 to provide suitable separable fasteners. I

The case may be employed for conveniently carrying the instrument from place to place. Its liner function, however is to provide asupporting table tor holding the instrument in a horizontal playing position as before described.

Appropriate supporting legs are provided for maintaining this case in a horizontal position so that it functions as a stand. The legs are toldable in ord r that they may be folded against the bottom o the case to pro vide for compactness and convenience in carrying. Three legs have been found suliicient for properly supporting the case. I For instance, there is a front leg as seen in Figure 2 at 22 and this is hingedly connected at to the left hand end portion of the neck extension 12. At the bottom is a triangular foot 24 which rests on the floor. The numeral 25 designates a pivotally mounted brace or stay having a cross head 26 slidinglv mounted in the channel shaped portion 27 or a guide and retention track as shown in Figure 9.

This track has longitudinal side flanges 28 which constitute confining elements. Then too, if desired, I provide one or more pivoted retaining latches or clips as at 29 for holding the leg and its tay in folded position.

For the rear leg structure i provide two independent supports each comprising a leg 30 hingedly mounted at 31 and provided with a relatively long diagonal brace or stay The stay 32 as seen in Figure 8 has a cross head 33 on its upper end slidably mounted in similar guide tracks 3% likewise equipped with their longitudinal keeper flanges In this way I provide a dependable ioldable tripod supporting leg structure.

Broadly, the principal novelt exists in the provision of a suitable stand for holding a steel guitar in a horizontal playing position wherein the stand embodies an appropriate table of a shape and design to receive and hold in place the guitar and which at the same time renders the strings accessible to facilitate sliding of the steel. Then too, I have found it practicable to embody foldable supporting legs, so that convenience and compactness in arrangement is assured.

More specifically, novelty resides in the arrangement wherein the stand is constructed in the nature of a case having appropriate cover means and carrying handle means,

whereby it may be utilized for tra11sporta tion purposes.

Changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangements of elements coming within the ield of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what .1. claim as new is:

1. in a structure of the class described, a

ringed musical instrument stand comprisa horizontal supporting body adapted to "Sill no a horizontal position above the legs performer and constructed to retain a guitar in a steady playing position, together with supporting legs therefor.

. ill a structure of the class described, a

c musical instrument stand comprisi: g a horizontal supporting body adapted to assume a horizontal positon above the legs the performer and constructed to retain a eel guitar in a steady playing position, to- "ether with supporting legs therefor, said supporting legs being toldable to render the stand of a knock-down portable type.

3. In a structure of the class described, a stringed musical instrument stand comprising a receptacle for reception of the musical instrument to hold the latter in a horizontal play 'ng position, and a toldable supporting leg structure for said receptacle.

l. In a structure of the class described, a stringed musical instrument stand comprising a receptacle for reception of the musical instrument to hold the latter in a horizontal )laying position, and a loldable supporting cg structure for said receptacle, said leg tructure embodying a single front leg, and

pair of rear legs, all of said legs being godly connected to the end portions of the receptacle and equipped with pivotally connected braces, said braces having sliding connection at their inner ends with the receptacle.

5. In a structure of the class described, a stringed musical instrument stand comprising a body including a box for reception of the body portion of the instrument, and a trough-like extension at one end of the box for reception of the neck of the instrument, said trough-like extension being provided at its terminal end with a notch through and beyond which the headed end of said neck extends in a manner so that the customar keys on the head of the instrument are acce; ible for tuning, and a plurality of supporting legs carried by the end portions of said body.

6. in a structure of the class described, a stringed musical instrument stand comprising a body including a box for reception of the body portion of the instrument, a troughlike extension at one end of the boX for reception of the neck of the instrument, said trough-like extension being provided at its terminal end with a notch through and beyond which the headed end of said neck extends in a manner so that the customary keys on the head of the instrument are accessible for tuning, and a plurality of supporting legs carried by the end portions of said body,

said supporting legs being foldable against the bottom of the body and including sustaining stays slidably connected with said body. 7. In a structure of the class described, a stringed musical instrument ase constructed to accommodate a steel guitar and including an open top body and a removable cover therefor, and a foldable supporting leg structure carried by said body, and allowing it to 1 be arranged in a horizontal supporting position, with the legs resting on the floor so that the instrument may be supported in a playin position.

in testimony whereof I afiix my si nature. ROBERT CULLEN EZZ LLE. 

